Reforestation of National Forests

Restoration work doesn't have an age limit. Getting a seedling into the ground takes the same care and attention whether it's your first planting or your fiftieth, and that's part of what makes it work at scale: no specialized skill required, just willing hands. Anyone who can kneel

A row of trees along a streambank does more than mark a boundary. Roots hold soil in place, reducing the erosion that would otherwise wash into the water, while the buffer filters out sediment and excess nutrients before they travel further downstream. Because water doesn't stop

Before any planting happens, someone has to walk the land first. Local foresters assess soil type, drainage, and what's already growing before deciding which trees will actually thrive there and how far apart to space them.

That groundwork shapes everything that follows. Planting

This patch of land in the southeastern US was tilled into rows and planted with young pine seedlings during the dormant winter season, when trees handle the stress of transplanting best. Crews walked the rows on foot, carrying seedling bags and planting by hand, one row at a time.

Bare

Not all forest work happens with a shovel. A lot of it happens like this — standing still, looking up, reading what the trees are telling you. Regular monitoring helps us understand how the forest is recovering, which areas need attention, and what's thriving on its own. The work

Before a tree becomes a forest, it starts here — bare roots, open soil, and a pair of hands ready to do the work. Each seedling is planted individually, roots carefully spread so they can anchor deep and grow strong. No shortcuts, just the slow and steady process of putting trees

Before water reaches you, it passes through a forest.
Trees hold soil in place, filter out chemicals, and regulate the flow of rivers and streams. Without them, watersheds degrade — and so does everything that depends on clean water.
Planting trees isn't just about what grows above

Some animals remind you just how vast and alive a landscape can be.
Wetlands, forests, and mountains don't exist in isolation — they're one system. Protecting and restoring any part of it means more habitat, more water, more life for everything that depends on it.

This little one tells a bigger story. The Eastern Bluebird is one of hundreds of species that depend on healthy pine forests to survive. When trees disappear, so does its habitat. Restoring diverse, open pine ecosystems isn't just about trees — it's about keeping the whole web of

Southern Pine Beetles are one of the biggest threats to Southeastern forests — and warming winters are making outbreaks worse.

These tiny insects spread fast, killing trees and devastating ecosystems. We're restoring resilient longleaf pine forests to fight back, building habitats

Restoration works best when it creates local ownership — engaging residents in planting, monitoring, and protecting the trees over time.

From seed collection to hardening off, nursery teams prepare young trees to withstand the transition from controlled environments to open landscapes.

In tree nurseries, the goal isn’t fast growth. Slower, steadier development often produces stronger trees, better prepared for life outside controlled conditions.

A forest like this is rarely still. Even when it looks calm, trees are constantly adjusting — growing more on one side, shedding roots on another — responding to light, wind, and neighboring trees in slow motion.

A new year sets new objectives for our National Forests: protect what’s intact, restore what’s degraded, and manage forests in ways that support long-term ecological health.